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Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles celebrates during the second half of a game against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on December 17, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Quarterback Nick Mullens #14 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles hands the ball to running back Kendrick Hardy #29 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Southern Miss 56-13. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Defensive end Greg McMullen #90 of the Nebraska Cornhuskers gets a hand on quarterback Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Quarterback Nick Mullens #14 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles throws the ball during their game at against the Southern Miss Golden EaglesMemorial Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Southern Miss 56-13. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Quarterback Nick Mullens #14 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles hands the ball to running back Jeremy Hester #21 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 7, 2013 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nebraska defeated Southern Miss 56-13. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles steps back in the pocket against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Bryant-Denny Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Quarterback Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles hands off to running back Jalen Richard #30 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles during their game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Quarterback Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles theows over the Nebraska Cornhuskers during their game at Memorial Stadium on September 26, 2015 in Lincoln, Nebraska. (Photo by Eric Francis/Getty Images)

Nick Mullens #9 of the Southern Miss Golden Eagles throws against the Washington Huskies during the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl at Cotton Bowl on December 26, 2015 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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SANTA CLARA — Wasn’t long ago that Nick Mullens was a college whippersnapper at the fabled Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, where he admired how “smooth” Eli Manning looked in a cameo.

Monday night, Mullens will make his encore as the 49ers starting quarterback, and it will be against Manning, a 15th-year veteran for the New York Giants.

Recalling that June 2016 invitation from Archie Manning, Mullens noted Tuesday how it gave him a chance to see where he stacked up against more “prominent” QBs, including fellow NFL upstarts Deshaun Watson and Josh Rosen. Oh, and Manning made an impression, too.

“To see how he moves in the pocket, he’s got very quick feet and was very, just, smooth,” Mullens recalled Monday. “I definitely remember sitting there, just watching him throw and took that all in.”

Mullens garnered a share of the camp’s Quarterback Challenge award. And, now, he’s earned himself a second straight start as the 49ers quarterback ahead of C.J. Beathard.

Mullens said coach Kyle Shanahan affirmed his role Tuesday, having produced a 262-yard, three-touchdown debut in last Thursday’s 34-3 rout of the Raiders. Shanahan did not announce it to the team as they reconvened after a four-day break, and he’s not slated to meet the media until Thursday.

“I’m done reflecting on it, to be honest. It’s time to get to the Giants,” Mullens said. “But it was a very cool moment. I tried to give it everything I have and when your work pays off, it’s exciting.”

Mullens’ emotions spilled over after the game, first in an interview with Fox and again as he headed for the locker room. During the game, however, Mullens looked composed, and, inside the huddle, he won over teammates more with the way he had to quiet coach Shanahan’s radio call so he could relay the play to teammates.

Even though teammates swear they weren’t shocked by Mullens’ breakout performance, most everyone else was. For example, he got verified on Twitter and went from 5,000 to 35,000 followers, and although he acknowledged how social media comes with today’s territory, he added: “I don’t worry about the things that don’t exactly matter.”

And what should the Giants think of him?

“I think they’re going to be, ‘Oh crap, this guy’s good’ ” said running back Matt Breida, who, like Mullens, joined the 49ers as an undrafted rookie last year. “Then they’re going to put more people back there in coverage, because of the throws he made and what he can do.”

After a 1-7 start that’s included a NFL-high 31 sacks, Manning remains the Giants starter. Rookie Kyle Lauletta, a fourth-round pick, hindered any immediate shot at unseating Manning after last week’s traffic-related arrest.

Manning’s 31 sacks already matched his 2017 total and they’re eight shy of his single-season career-high from 2013. He’s thrown for 2,377 yards with eight touchdowns, six interceptions and two lost fumbles.

Manning is 6-3 all-time against the 49ers, including a win in the 2011 season’s NFC Championship Game at Candlestick and a 31-21 loss last November at Levi’s Stadium. His wins have come against Cody Pickett, Trent Dilfer, J.T. O’Sullivan, Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick; losses vs. Smith, Kaepernick and Beathard.

Beathard had gone 0-5 as the starter following Jimmy Garoppolo’s season-ending knee injury. In Tuesday’s warmups (and in Thursday’s pregame action), Beathard showed no hindrance from injuries to his right wrist and thumb the preceding game at Arizona.

San Francisco 49ers’ Jeff Wilson Jr. (41) celebrates his touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the third quarter at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Thursday, August 30, 2018. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

Another potential option: Ameer Abdullah, who the Lions waived — to the shock of Breida and guard Laken Tomlinson, a former Lions teammate. The 49ers are third in the waiver-wire order. The former Lions starter has been inactive for five games this season with just one carry (1 yard) and two receptions (18 yards).

Among those watching Tuesday’s practice up close was Jerick McKinnon, who no longer needs crutches some two months after he blew out his right anterior cruciate ligament in practice.

If the 49ers opt not to elevate Wilson or Dayes, they could audition free agents or sign someone off another team’s practice squad.

Linebacker Reuben Foster worked on a side field with the training staff because of a hamstring injury that foreced him out of the Oct. 28 loss at Arizona and kept him out of uniform against the Raiders.

With the bye looming after Monday night’s game, the 49ers are not expected to rush Foster back into the lineup. Malcolm Smith and Elijah Lee have rotated at weak-side linebacker in Foster’ place.

The 49ers linebackers and overall defense will be matching up Monday against NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Saquon Barkley, who’s proven quite the threat as both a rusher (519 yards, five TDs) and receiver (497 yards, 2 TDs).

In other injury news, wide receiver Pierre Garçon (knee) worked on a side field with trainer. Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) was not seen on the field, and fellow safety Antone Exum stretched with the team and looks to be progressing in the concussion protocol.

Eddie D’s B-day

Former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo celebrated his 72nd birthday Tuesday, and he received well-wishes on social media from the 49ers and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.